Background
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) gave the states more flexibility in determining transportation solutions and required the development of a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) continued this flexibility.
MnDOT responded by decentralizing the program decision-making process to a more regional level (i.e. the districts). The Area Transportation Partnerships were established by each district to facilitate broader input to the project selection process. ATP-7 covers the 13 counties of Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Nobles, Rock, Sibley, Waseca and Watonwan.
The 2012 MAP-21 federal transportation bill introduced a more performance based approach, especially in regards to the National Highway System. The 2015 FAST Act is the current federal transportation bill which continues to emphasize the same areas of performance as its predecessor.
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
MAPS
Capital Highway Investment Proposal - State Highways (CHIP)
To learn more about the current CHIP and the process of selecting projects for inclusion, watch the CHIP Presentation at https://youtu.be/4WJ67LLOfD4. Please contact Ronda Allis, Planning Director, with questions and comments.
ATP-7 operating procedures and policies
Membership
Members of ATP-7 include:
- 4 MnDOT District 7 representatives
- 2 Regional Development Commission representatives
- 4 County representatives
- 3 City (more than 5,000 population) representatives
- 2 Transit representatives
- 1 Mankato / North Mankato Area Planning Organization representative
MnDOT is responsible for staff support of the ATP-7.
Transit |
Mankato / North Mankato Area Planning Organization |
Craig Rempp, Greater Mankato Transit
507-387-8655 |
Pat LaCourse, Brown County Transit,
507-359-6562 |
Seth Greenwood,
Nicollet County,
507-931-1760 |
MAPO Alternate |
Cities |
Troy Nemmers, P.E., City of Fairmont
507-238-3942 |
Mike Kuhle
City of Worthington
507-360-9012 |
Jeff Johnson,
City of Mankato
507-387-8640 |
|
Counties |
Ryan Thilges,
Blue Earth County Engineer,
507-304-4031 |
Don Wachal,
Jackson County Commissioner
507-847-4182 |
Nick Klisch, Cottonwood County Engineer,
507-831-1389 |
Jack Kolars,
Nicollet County Commissioner
507-327-9987 |
Regional Development Commission (RDC) |
Richard Peterson, Southwest RDC
952-237-9813 |
Robert Goblirsch
Region Nine
(507) 794-3650 |
Alt.
Rosemary Bruce-White,
Southwest RDC
507-836-1633 |
Alt. Shawn Schloesser
Region 9
507-389-8886 |
MnDOT |
Ronda Allis, Planning Director,
507-514-2332 |
Greg Ous, District Engineer
507-304-6101 |
Peter Harff,
Asst. District Engineer
507-304-6194 |
Lisa Bigham,
State Aid Engineer
507-304-6105 |
Activities/Schedule
Each year, ATPs develop an Area Transportation Improvement Program (ATIP) to incorporate into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). ATIPs, which span a minimum of four years, include all projects that seek federal aid highway, state trunk highway, and federal transit sources of funding.
To distribute the funds, a Statewide Performance Program allows Minnesota to meet performance targets on the National Highway System.
ATP-7 solicits projects for:
- Surface Transportation Program (small urban and rural road and bridge; and transit capital)
- Transportation Alternatives Program (within a statewide framework)
These projects are ranked by categories with set investment targets, and then integrated into the four-year ATIP. Project categories include:
- National Highway System
- State roads and bridges
- Rural county roads and bridges
- Small urban (more than 5,000 population) city streets and bridges
- Transportation alternatives
- Transit capital
Schedule of activities
- November–January: Solicit projects
- February: Evaluate and prioritize projects
- March: Draft ATIP
- April: Public comment and review period
- May: Submit draft ATIP to MnDOT Central Office
- June: Draft STIP review and comment
- July: STIP approval by Commissioner
2020 timeline (PDF 20 KB)